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Lanehead Quarry
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of the depth of the Lanehead Quarry. [16726]
Sir Paul Beresford: I understand that the local minerals planning authority, Lancaster county council, is currently in negotiation with the operators of this quarry in relation to updating its operational and restoration conditions. Any assessment of the environmental impact of the depth of the quarry is, therefore, a matter for the county council.
Planing Inquiries
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning inquiries are awaiting determination by (a) inspectors and (b) local authorities.[17091]
Sir Paul Beresford: Following local inquiries, 73 planning appeals in England are currently awaiting decision by inspectors, and 41 planning appeals and 42 called in planning applications are awaiting decision by my right hon. Friend following receipt of the inspector's report.
Sainsbury, Islington
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons he called in the application by Sainsbury plc for a retail outlet on Holloway road, Islington. [17069]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment called in the application so that he could consider the issues it raises. Among the matters appearing likely to be relevant to his consideration are the effects of the development on the vitality and viability of the nearby Nags Head centre, the effects of the development on the character and amenities of the area, the likely effects of the development on the traffic movements on the nearby road network and the loss of land for industrial development.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each year since 1979 the number of times he has exercised his planning call-in powers; and on how many occasions he has overturned the inspector's decision. [17067]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The number of planning applications in England called in since the financial year 1986-87 is as follows:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1986-87 | 152 |
| 1987-88 | 113 |
| 1988-89 | 117 |
| 1989-90 | 103 |
| 1990-91 | 132 |
| 1991-92 | 140 |
| 1992-93 | 101 |
| 1993-94 | 99 |
| 1994-95 | (14)167 |
(14) 30 of these cases relate to a single site in Devonport and a further 15 arose in Cornwall. Where the local authorities went against national planning guidance.
Since 1 April 1994, the Secretary of State has determined called-in applications against the inspector's recommendation on 11 occasions.
Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Barry Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure and loan sanction by his Department on the Isle of Wight in 1994-95 broken down by category. [16771]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The table sets out (i) expenditure by my Department on grants to local authorities; and (ii) credit approvals and borrowing approvals issued to local authorities and local councils on the Isle of Wight in 1994-95.
(15) Does not include business rate income.
(16) Paid in 1994-95, adjusted downwards to reflect actual spend in 1995-96.
(17) Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA) cover for Specified Capital Grant (SCG)
(18) Borrowing approval issued to Shanklin and Sandown town councils, whose areas were within that of South Wight borough council.
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 613
Green Environment, Greater Manchester
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of his Department in relation to promoting a green environment in the Greater Manchester area. [17058]
Mr. Clappison: My Department helps to promote a green environment, both nationally and locally, through its various policies and initiatives. In Greater Manchester, the Government office for the north-west, and organisations supported by my Department, such as the Mersey Basin Campaign, Groundwork and the Red Rose forest initiative are all carrying out work to enhance the environment.
Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each local authority in receipt of grant aid under the single regeneration budget and its predecessors together with the sums they received as a cumulative total and for each year since 1979. [17071]
Sir Paul Beresford: The total amounts received by local authorities in grant aid each year since 1989-90, under the programmes which now form the single regeneration budget, are as follows.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1989-90 | 309,032,000 |
| 1990-91 | 325,942,000 |
| 1991-92 | 326,896,000 |
| 1992-93 | 387,985,000 |
| 1993-94 | 511,880,000 |
| 1994-95 | 405,312,000 |
| 1995-96(19) | 734,085,000 |
(19) Forecast.
The 1995-96 forecast total includes grant payments from the single regeneration budget challenge fund to local partnerships, where a local authority is the nominated accountable body for the partnership. Local
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 614
authorities may also be receiving grant indirectly where they are members of such partnerships, but are not the accountable bodies.
A breakdown of the totals by each recipient local authority, with information for earlier years than 1989-90, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution authorisation for the burning of cemfuel in cement kilns complies with the application of the proposed EU directive on hazardous waste. [16908]
Mr. Clappison:
Maximum thermal substitution has been restricted to 40 per cent. as per article 3(3) and the cemfuel has been specified as per article 3(4) of the directive. Emission limits have been set as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the chief inspector's guidance notes. As long as cemfuel remains defined as waste, all relevant provisions of the directive will apply from the date defined in the directive.
Mr. Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has evaluated alleging that burning (a) tyres, (b) sewage sludge and (c) polychlorinated biphenyls in cement kilns is safe.[16727]
Mr. Clappison:
The criteria used by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in determining the safe use of a waste fuel in cement kilns is to require the operator to undertake trials and to prove that such burning will not result in adverse environmental effects. One plant has carried out such trials with burning of tyre chips and proved that there was no adverse effect on the environment. There have been no trials on the burning of sewage sludge or PCBs.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to develop a housing strategy for the Greater Manchester area. [17039]
Mr. Clappison:
None. It is for individual local authorities to draw up housing strategies for their areas in consultation with all interested parties.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further measures he plans to control houses in multiple occupation in the Greater Manchester area. [17057]
Mr. Clappison:
Further measures to control houses in multiple occupation are contained in the Housing Bill, which is currently being considered in Committee. The measures in the Bill will, when enacted, apply to Greater Manchester as elsewhere in England and Wales.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a breakdown of the number of people who were accepted as homeless in the Greater Manchester area over the last 10 years by (a) sex and (b) age group; and if he will make a statement. [17038]
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 615
Mr. Clappison:
The information requested is not available.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the successful bids under round one of the single regeneration budget by region and value of grant. [17070]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The information requested was placed in the Library of the House and circulated to hon. Members on 6 December 1994. I have sent further copies to the hon. Member.
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